Since I bought my 2006 C6 Corvette, the 2003 4runner is sitting outside the garage . Just curious, how much more body damage (like color fade, rust) if the car is not garaged? I wax the 4runner with Rejex (awesome wax that corvette users use), so I think I am offsetting some UV damage... but any thoughts would be great.

I would expect more water spots, bird bombs, paint contamination, paint fade, etc on the outside.

Depending on where you park, more leaves, pollen, tree stuff under the hood, around the doors/hatch seals, where water drains.

Spiders and bugs also have places to hide. Side view mirrors are popular.

The interior will take a UV beating & more heat.


New vehicles don't rust like older ones. They are overall more durable inside and out. But a garage is always so much better. A garage also makes maintainence and waxing so much easier.




I'm moving and will be without a garage soon.

Depends on where you live, if it's parked under trees, covered or in shade, etc. If you keep the 4Runner well-detailed with a good coat of wax, that will help with dust, minor scratches from things falling on it (hail, small tree branches, etc.) and tree sap, etc. As far as paint fade goes, that will depend on the paint itself (longevity) and how much sun beats on it. If you're not in a very rainy or snowy area, I wouldn't worry too much about rust. Most rust occurs on the undercarriage and results from water spraying up from driving on the road or mud and leaves getting stuck (and not cleaned out) of tight places like corners of the wheel wells. As long as you check to make sure the underside of the truck is clean every time you wash it, you should be able to avoid most corrosion.

I would recommend using a sun shade for protection of your dash and interior from UV, fading, and cracking.

The body will be OK, with the previously mentioned things to watch like extra bird droppings or exposure to more sun.

Over time, there will be more rust on undercarriage components and engine components than there would be with a garage-kept vehicle. Although a garage is not exactly climate-controlled, the temperature and humidity don't change as quickly inside as they do outside. That doesn't mean anything will quickly rust away to the point of failure... just expect to see it happen.

Realizing that the 4Runner is made in Japan and has to come to North America via ocean vessel, Toyota has to protect exposed metal from salt water in the air during the trip over. On past Toyota's I've owned, they undercoated everything real well. (It was like getting a free undercoating service!) On my 06 4Runner, I see that they've started using paint instead of undercoating. Still, a lot more surfaces are painted than they would be if the truck was made in North America, but it was a bit disappointing to see one more excellent detail fall victim to the "make things cheaper" mentality. The manual says that the paint used on the undercarriage is specially designed for that purpose, so time will tell how well it holds up.

I'd get a cover if I were you. Wax is a good overall plan but will not stop the general weathering of the elements.

Do you have a good tint and always put a windshield sunscreen in place will help keep the UV rays from doing too much damage.

Have to disagree on the cover. While it would protect the finish form the sun and the birds, it will trap moisture longer. After the air gets really humid on a rainy day, the cover will slow down the exchange of drier air for the humid air around the truck.
Plus, it will be a daily pain in the neck if the truck is used daily but just happens to sit outside due to lack of garage space.

Your getting way to deep into this , a good wax with UV protection , good int. product with good uv protection,and upkeep is important on it.

A good wax / polymer paint sealant will offer good protection to wather the element's.

A sunscreen on the windshield is a good idea.

NOW , for the big question..... give me some info on how long this will be sittingn without being driven...that's really the key here.

I detail alot of car's that sit inside and out, so I'll give you some of my thought's when I have a better idea of what you are doing with it. Are you using the C6 all summer or what's you vehicle schedule ?

I also would not get a cover....sometime's they can do more harm than good depending on your usage.

I used a cover on my last vehicle.

With only one vehicle, I used the cover while on vacation without my car. Sometimes I'd use it on the weekends, if I had no plans to drive. I also kept it in the trunk during the summer for hail storms. I could put it on in minutes. A 4runner won't be as easy.

Moisture is not a problem with a quality cover & some warm air or sun light. Only put a cover on a relatively clean vehicle. And when the cover gets dirty, need to clean it at a laundy mat with the big washer.


But come on, were talking about a 4Runner. It's a truck. Drive it in the mud, in the woods, put some scratches on it. Leave the Vettes, Porsches, and other street queens for the garages and car covers.
:arrow:

I keep my 4Runner in the garage every night. Isn't that why I have a garage?

One thing to consider:

Keeping any vehicle in a heated (or warm) garage like mine during the winter months can accelerate the corrosion of the body and undercarriage (from road salt) more than if the vehicle sat outside in the cold.

Good point!

Whenever snows around here and I drive the car on "serviced roads" I do not let the car sit inside the garage. I rather let it out and allow water to freeze "to decrease speed of oxidation". I only put it back in after it has been washed good.

I figure, if you have he vette in the garage you dont have much to worry about. When you see the paint damage on the 4runner, just look at the flawless vette and smile. ;) The 4runner is meant to take the beatings of the outdoors.

As far as car covers are concerned...like anything you have to do some common servicing. A good waxing is a must. Remove the cover once a week and wash is good. Make sure the cover is tight - not allowed to "balloon" in the breeze. I had my 964 and 911 Porsches in Hong Kong under cover during the week. Always maintained their quality paint and never a problem with moisture. Survived many typhoon conditions!

It's silver.....keep some good wax on it, fallout brick when needed and it'll look good forever.